Dispensing of gloves

Abstract

The present invention relates to the dispensing of gloves from a dispenser. The dispenser ( 1 ) comprises a container ( 2 ) and a plurality of disposable gloves ( 22 ). The container ( 2 ) has a plurality of faces ( 3, 4, 5 ), and each glove ( 22 ) has a cuff portion ( 36 ) and a finger portion ( 34 ), the cuff portion having a cuff ( 40 ) and the gloves being stacked one on another with the cuffs of the gloves being aligned on one side ( 42 ) of the stack ( 20 ) of gloves held within the container ( 2 ). The container ( 2 ) has in use a dispensing aperture ( 24 ) in at least one face ( 3, 5 ) of the container through which gloves ( 22 ) can be dispensed. The gloves ( 22 ) are oriented in the container ( 2 ) so that the gloves are positioned for dispensing cuff-first through the aperture ( 24 ), and the finger portion ( 34 ) of each glove ( 22 ) is folded back against the cuff portion ( 36 ) of the same glove to protect the finger portion from user contact and contamination during dispensing of the glove. The cuff portion has a cuff opening for receiving a user's hand, the cuff opening facing outwards with respect to the dispensing aperture.

1 . A dispenser for disposable gloves, comprising a container and a plurality of disposable gloves, wherein:
 the container has a plurality of faces;   each glove has a cuff portion and a finger portion, the cuff portion having a cuff and the gloves being stacked one on another with the cuffs of the gloves being aligned on one side of the stack of gloves;   the stack of gloves is held within the container;   the container has in use a dispensing aperture in at least one face of the container through which gloves can be dispensed;   the gloves are oriented in said container so that said gloves are positioned for dispensing cuff-first through said aperture;   the cuff portion has a cuff opening for receiving a user's hand, the cuff opening facing outwards with respect to the dispensing aperture; and   the finger portion of each glove is folded back against the cuff portion of the same glove and said finger portion not extending as far as the cuff opening to protect the finger portion from user contact and contamination during dispensing of the glove.   
     
     
         2 . A dispenser for disposable gloves as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the gloves are stacked one on another between opposite ends of the stack, and the glove dispenser is arranged in use to dispense gloves from a first one of said ends, the finger portion of each glove being folded back against a side of the cuff portion furthest away from said first end of the stack of gloves. 
     
     
         3 . A dispenser for disposable gloves as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the finger portion of each glove is folded in the same way as other gloves in the stack. 
     
     
         4 . A dispenser for disposable gloves as claimed in  claim 1 , in which during use the finger portion of the glove next to be dispensed is covered by the cuff portion of the same glove. 
     
     
         5 . A dispenser for disposable gloves as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the dispensing aperture includes a portion of the aperture that extends across a portion of a face of the container opposite the top side of the stack. 
     
     
         6 . A dispenser for disposable gloves as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the stack has in use a top side and a bottom side, the aperture being shaped to facilitate the removal of gloves cuff first from the top side of the stack, the finger portion of each glove being folded underneath the cuff portion of the same glove. 
     
     
         7 . A dispenser for disposable gloves as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the stack has in use a top side and a bottom side, the dispenser comprising additionally a movable plate within the container, the plate being positioned on the top side of the stack of gloves to protect the topmost glove in the stack. 
     
     
         8 . A dispenser for disposable gloves as claimed in  claim 7 , in which the movable plate moves downwards under its own weight as each glove is dispensed from the top of the stack of gloves. 
     
     
         9 . A dispenser for disposable gloves as claimed in  claim 8 , in which there are no means biasing the movable plate towards the stack of gloves. 
     
     
         10 . A dispenser for disposable gloves as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the dispensing aperture includes a portion of the aperture that extends across a portion of a face of the container opposite the top side of the stack. 
     
     
         11 . A dispenser for disposable gloves as claimed in  claim 7 , in which, the dispensing aperture includes a portion of the aperture that extends across a portion of a face of the container opposite the top side of the stack, and the movable plate is shaped to conform to said extent of said portion of the dispensing aperture. 
     
     
         12 . A dispenser for disposable gloves as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the stack of gloves has a substantially square outline. 
     
     
         13 . A dispenser for disposable gloves as claimed in  claim 1 , in which prior to use the dispensing aperture is covered over by a plurality of panels, said panels being individually removable so that the size of the dispensing aperture may be increased during use to aid access to the next glove to be dispensed depending on the number of gloves left in the stack for dispensing. 
     
     
         14 . A dispenser for disposable gloves, comprising a container and a plurality of disposable gloves, wherein:
 the container has a plurality of faces;   the gloves being stacked one on another with the cuffs of the gloves being aligned on one side of the stack of gloves;   the stack of gloves is held within the container;   the container has in use a dispensing aperture in at least one face of the container through which gloves can be dispensed;   the gloves are oriented in said container so that said gloves are positioned for dispensing cuff-first through said aperture; and   prior to use the dispensing aperture is covered over by a plurality of adjacent panels, different portions of the dispensing aperture being covered over by different panels and each of said panels being individually removable from the container so that the size of the dispensing aperture may be incrementally increased during use to aid access to the next glove to be dispensed depending on the number of gloves left in the stack for dispensing.   
     
     
         15 . A dispensing system for dispensing disposable gloves, comprising a wall-mountable holder and a dispenser for disposable gloves, the dispenser comprising a container and a plurality of disposable gloves, wherein:
 the container has a plurality of faces;   the gloves being stacked one on another with the cuffs of the gloves being aligned on one side of the stack of gloves;   the stack of gloves is held within the container;   the container has in use a dispensing aperture in at least one face of the container through which gloves can be dispensed;   the gloves are oriented in said container so that said gloves are positioned for dispensing cuff-first through said aperture; and   prior to use the dispensing aperture is covered over by a plurality of adjacent panels, different portions of the dispensing aperture being covered over by different panels and each of said panels being individually removable from the container so that the size of the dispensing aperture may be incrementally increased during use to aid access to the next glove to be dispensed depending on the number of gloves left in the stack for dispensing;   wherein the dispenser may be securely and removeably held in the holder so that gloves can be dispensed from the dispenser when held in the holder.   
     
     
         16 . A dispensing system for dispensing disposable gloves, comprising a wall-mountable holder and a dispenser for disposable gloves, wherein:
 the container has a plurality of faces;   each glove has a cuff portion and a finger portion, the cuff portion having a cuff and the gloves being stacked one on another with the cuffs of the gloves being aligned on one side of the stack of gloves;   the stack of gloves is held within the container;   the container has in use a dispensing aperture in at least one face of the container through which gloves can be dispensed;   the gloves are oriented in said container so that said gloves are positioned for dispensing cuff-first through said aperture;   the cuff portion has a cuff opening for receiving a user's hand, the cuff opening facing outwards with respect to the dispensing aperture;   the finger portion of each glove is folded back against the cuff portion of the same glove and said finger portion not extending as far as the cuff opening to protect the finger portion from user contact and contamination during dispensing of the glove; and   the dispenser may be securely and removeably held in the holder so that gloves can be dispensed from the dispenser when held in the holder.